We have a special week ahead.

First we have the Fountain Festival of Arts and Crafts running Friday through Sunday. I hope everyone enjoys it and the many visitors that the festival brings to town. While you are at the Fountain Festival, I invite you to go down to the VFW Beer Garden to enjoy the music and the food and drink provided by VFW Post 7507. This is a significant fundraising event for the VFW, allowing the post to continue to help veterans in need and to continue its other good works.

Saturday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. I invite and encourage everyone to attend the ceremony at the town’s Veterans Memorial at El Lago and Kiwanis Drive. The 9 a.m. ceremony will honor all of our veterans who have served our country. I encourage anyone who attends to wear patriotic clothing or Red Shirt Friday shirts, and I encourage veterans to wear articles of military clothing or of veterans service organizations to which they belong.

In addition to good food and drink (alcohol and non-alcoholic), there will be good music provided by the Borderland Band and Blacksmith Hand Band to enjoy (thanks to the efforts of Dan Margolis of Fountain Hills Barbershop). The only live music within the Festival confines is that provided at the VFW beer garden.

The famous Red Shirt Friday shirts are also available within the VFW Beer Garden.

As the post adjutant, I invite everyone to visit, relax, eat and drink at the VFW Beer Garden located just south of Avenue of the Fountains on Saguaro Blvd. or to relax and have a drink at the mini-garden on Verde River Drive, just south of the Avenue.

And to all Marines, on Thursday, I wish you a happy 242nd birthday!